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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-03-28, Page 24HOPE Page 2 Karen's legacy of hope lives on in family BY MARGARET ARBUCKLE It leas been, allajoat five. }ears since Karen Clark died, just three weeks short of her 10th birthday. "But `Kateniti Tegaey of HOPE that, a cure=for-cancer Evill'b faund1ives on in - her parents and friends Today, Janet Clark of Wingham is able to put her life and her daughter's life into perspective. And true to Karen's memory, her mother now fights to make life easier for the victims of childhood cancer and their families. .June of 1971 -was -a busy -time for thee -lark family. In addition to wrapping up her school year at the Wingham Public School, Karen's aunt was being married in London that month. So the family traveled to London for the wedding. During the whirlwind of picture taking, Mrs. Clark said she remembered looking at her daughter and saying to h'erself, "My, she needs a blood transfusion," because Karen looked so pale and fatigued'. Even after the festivities were over and Karen was back home, she was still pale and listless. One day, her mother said, she took her dolls outside to play and fell asleep on the steps. The Clarks, noted the change in Karen's behaviour and soon had her scheduled to see a doctor. After seeing the child, the doctor ,ordered blood tests and a bone marrow count. Within several hours of that first doctor's visit, he called Mrs. Clark and her husband Art to his office and delivered the crushing news: Karen had leukemia and was scheduled to start treatment in London im- mediately. Mrs. dark said they were stunned by the news, partly because everything happened so,fast (a week and a half) and because peo- ple just don't associate children with cancer. Butchildrendo get cancer. as they quickly learned at London where they met other parents with children undergoing 'chemotherapy and cobalt treatments. In fact, < the parents of a group of cancer - stricken children had formed the Childhood Cancer Research Association (CCRA) in Janet Clark. true to Karen's memory 1974 as a moral and personal support system for its members. Soon the Clarks became in- volved as well.' Karen responded well to her initial round of treatments and went into remission from the disease. She returned to school in the fall of 1977 and led a relatively normal life until December 1978 when she relapsed. This time Karen was given intensive chemotherapy treatments and went into remission again, but it proved short-lived. In April of 1979, Karen relapsed and she never ymnt . into :reinission -again.:,She- died quietly at home in July of that year. MEDICAL. BREAKTHROUGHS Medical science has made great strides in the fight against leukemia since Karen was diagnosed seven years ago. At that time Karen's specialists told the Clarks it did not matter when the disease was.deteeted: t..today the tide has turned early detection the key to fighting any TQrm of cancer. " New diagnostic techniques also help in pointing the type of leukemia a person is suf- fering from more quickly, thus enabling doctors to begin suitable treatment sooner. Bone marrow transplants from donors and from the patients themselves are being attempted more frequently and with en- couraging results—The _mast...irevQlutionarY_ development in this field is taking the bone marrow of a patient in remission and then freezing it for future use if the person has a relapse, thus eliminating the possibiltiy of the body rejecting the marrow. To ensure ther are no cancer cells linger- ing in the bone marrow, a new technique called "mopping up" puts the marrow though a cell sorter which shines a lazer beam onto each single cell. The way, the cancer cells can be located and removed. These new developments open up tremen- dous possibilities for leukemia sufferers which were unheard of even five years ago. QUIET COURAGE treatment, the Clarks were fortunate enough to have family in London with whom they :cold stay,. liat for otUQi s w o must travel long distances, the city`can be a cold and expensive place, • Ronald McDonald Houses are homes away from: home for children taking cancer treatments and their families. Over 50 such homes are located across the United States and Canada. They provide professional care in a home setting, close to the hospital and at a minimal cost. The London Ronald McDonald House will have 11 bedrooms and cost in the neighborhood of $900,000. But Mrs. Clark is confident the CCRA can raise the money with the help of its dedicated volunteers and the house should be standing next June at the Westminster campus of Victoria Hospital. Another project Mrs. Clark recently has become involved with is the formation of a palliative care unit at the Goderich hospital and possibly at hospitals throughout the area. Palliative care units use trained volunteers to offer counselling and support to others in the event of the death of a parent, child or spouse. Mrs. Clark has con - Throughout her illness Karen Clarkwas ducted workshops on bereavement an ideal patient, never complaining and counselling,focusiung_on_the.death-of a,cl,_,Lld ._... — —._ displaying a quiet strength that carriedher-A survey is underway currently and her family through the rough spots. throughout Huron County to assess the need Karen became an example of hope and for palliative care units at hospitals in courage when she was featured in a CBC Huron and if that survey indicates the need "Fifth' Estate" documentary on children exists, Mrs. Clark is likely to be conducting and cancer four years ago. The program more Workshops in the near future. was filmed while Karen was undergoing In addition to her involvement with the. treatments in London and it featured three CCRA, Ronald McDonald House and other young cancer patients. bereavement counselling, Mrs. Clark also is a volunteer at the Wingham Public School and a member of the United Church Women. Her husband is a representative on the Huron County Board of Education and runs a Wingham engineering firnan: Their son Paul is in Grade 7 at the Wingham Public School. The memory of their daughter is, Still .. strong and will be always. In helping others, they are being true to that memory and fulfilling her legacy of hope.. It is this fortitude that has spurred her parents on to helping others cope with similar situations. The Clarksstill:are -heavily . involved in the CCRA. The group's latest project, and a longtime dream of Mrs. Clark's, looks like it will become a reality next year with the fun- draising kickoff March 4 for a Ronald McDonald House in London. While Karen was undergoing cancer What is the Childhood Cancer Research Association? The Childhood Cancer Research Association is a Canadian registered charitable organization and is separate from the Canadian Cancer Society. It originated in 1974 as the result of the efforts of some concerned parents. Its aims are many: 1. To provide moral and personal support to any individual or family touched by childhood cancer; 2. To prepare and present to public or private groups, educational information concerning childhood cancer; 3. To raise funds for research in the field of childhood cancer; 4. To co-operate with similar groups, associations, or authorities m connection with childhood cancer; 5. To hold regular meetings to exchange information, opinions, and experiences related to childhood cancer. A11 money received by the Association is retained for local research and research _support. "Research" includes laboratory research at several London hospitals and the University of Western Ontario as well as interested groups about CCRA and psychosocial research in connection with childhood cancer. A growing library of childhood cancer; research that affects the daily care of our children. To date, funds have been used to purchase equipment for research and to create research positions which the hospital has been unable to support. Medical staff are also sent to various centres m North America periodically to keep up to date on the newest procedures and developments: Since the Association is comprised totally of volunteers, administrative costs remain less than five percent of the total budget"' Members are available to speak to Cancer volunteer livingroof cancer not alwa s fatal h Y written information is available. CCRA has helped in several films about childhood cancer and hopes that through this, and other media, it can increase public awareness about childhood cancer, and the need to support its victims: Tell others about CCRA. Spread the word that yes, kids can get cancer. Some day, through the interest, generosity, and hard work of individuals like you, the secret of childhood cancer will be uncovered. Won't you be proud to have helped? Editor's Note: The following story about. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson felt that sharing_ Joy Robinson appeared In the Windsor -Star -their grariddaaghter's . sue), °Wulff give in February. It was written by medical HOPE to others who may need it. reporter Paul McReague. Joy is the granddaughter of Manley and ' Joy Robinson's neck was sore and she was Iola Robinson of Goderich. She is presently rubbing it in class one day in September of an active high school student and 1980 when she felt a large lump. cheerleader enjoying good health. The Amherstburg girl, who was only 11 years -old at the time, recalls how she was taken to hospital and how shortly afterward she learned to her fright, confusion and anger that she had cancer. "I had associated the word with death," said Joy, who is now 15. "I was thinking what did I ever do to deserve this. I was so young." This information is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following: d "ONE STEP AHEAD'' ROSS SHOE SHOP ONE THE SQUARE, GODERICH YOUR .HEADQUARTERS FOR NATURALIZERS THE NATURALIZER SHOE WITH A BEAUTIFUL FIT HOFFMEYER PLUMBING & HEATING INGLIS APPLIANCES 55 KINGSTON ST. GODERICH 524-7861 ART'S LANDSCAPING NURSERY & GARDEN CENTRE 116 BENNETT ST. GODERICH PHONE 524-2645 Joy had HodgkinsDisease,.a-cancer of the lymphatic system."But the diseasehias been in remission for two years and Joy now feels she can help other youngsters who are suffering as she did. "There are a lot of kids who get sick and it's a tragedy and nobody can understand Turn topage 3• GODERICH PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION McCALLUM FUNERAL HOME CAMBRIA ROAD, AT EAST ST., GODERICH .